Uche Henry
The National Broadcast Academy (NBA), Ikeja, the training arm of Federal Radio Cooperation of Nigeria (FRCN), has charged broadcasters to always be professional in their reportage as it commemorates the World Radio Day.
Speaking at the event which took place last week Tuesday at the academy’s premises, the Director, NBA, Ajibola Abiola, charged broadcasters to use media programmes to promote dialogue, peaceful co-existence and unity in the country.
Abiola stated that the academy would begin to mark World Radio Day every year to educate the citizens on the use of radio programmes for nation building, adding that the social tranquillity of any nation is largely dependent on the activities of the media.
“The media must know that their actions or inactions can both stir up dust in the country and can simmer down any socio-economic or political tension; therefore they should be instruments for the propagation of peace, mutual understanding, and tolerance for national growth and development and not otherwise,” he maintained.
Speaking also, the Director, Academic Planning, NBA, Yunusa Tanko, represented by the Deputy Director, Academic Planning, Aliyu Ayodele, called on politicians to use the radio as a tool for national development and not for fomenting unwholesome acts especially in the political landscape.
“The media must discharge their statutory roles as they ought to be, with all sense of humanity and not otherwise,” he stressed.
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Speaking on the theme, “Radio as a tool for dialogue, peace, and unity,” a guest television presenter of the programme: “Political Stew,” at Television Continental, Mr Suleimon Aledeh, called on broadcast journalists to use their craftsmanship to promote peace and civil education wherever they find themselves.
Aledeh, an alumnus of NBA, advised broadcasters to always use scripts while on air to avoid mistakes. “Professionalism is the watchword and we must see to it at all times,” he stressed.
In his contribution, the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, represented by the National Information Officer of United Nations Information Centre (INIC) Nigeria, Dr Oluseyi Soremekun, said that the radio is a powerful tool for the promotion of peace and civility in the society.
“The media must be aware of the power they possess and use it to advance the course of broad-mindedness and parley,” he said.
In her remark, the coordinator of the event and Head of Department (Production), Uchenna Obaseki, thanked the broadcast industry partners especially the United Nations for their support, adding that NBA would have a greater observance of the World Radio Day in 2020.
Obaseki presented prizes to some students in the academy’s Department of Production who participated in intellectual discourse, urging them to keep the ball rolling in their careers.
Present at the event were, the academy’s Registrar, Jimoh Ibrahim; Busar, Obarien Lucky and Deputy Director, Administration, Mrs Nkiru Okiche.
Others present included Mr Godwin Orji, who represented the Zonal Director, Enugu Zonal Station, Ken Ike Okere, Mrs Funke Treasure- Durodola, who represented the Director, Lagos Operations, Prince Adeyinka Amosun; GM, Bond FM, Adenike Adegoge; Deputy Director, Marketing, Daramola Ayodeji, staff and students of the academy.